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AUGUST IS CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH

**From a NEW author writing for DaddyBlogger.com!!**  "A Father of Two"  Be sure to tell us what you think and comment below - requires NO account.  

August has been proclaimed as "Child Support Awareness Month" in Michigan and throughout the United  States.

Michigan's Family Law Court System would have you continue to support the outdated, biased, and stereotyped notion that a divorced, non-custodial parent (about 85% of the time the father), is good for nothing other than paying child support dollars into the system.

This is done to maximise the federal incentive dollars awarded to the states under Title IV-D of the Social Security System, which rewards every state for forcibly removing a fit, willing, and able parent from the life of his or her children.

"Supporting" your child does not come down to a divorced parent having a large part of their paycheck taken into this system to justify financial rewards.

Reasons to Support Shared Parenting

As a father of two, the following is my take on what "child support" really is, from A to Z.  I hope you take the following to heart.  These are just some of what I do, as a divorced, non-custodial father, to "support" my children.

A.  Show AFFECTION for your children.  Give them an ALLOWANCE for doing their chores.

B. Give them a proper BREAKFAST to start the day with.  Make BATH time a fun, and clean experience.

C. CHALLENGE your children to rise to new heights.  Increase their CONFIDENCE.

D.  Appropriately and timely DISCIPLINE  your children.

E.  Set the proper EXAMPLE for them to learn by.  Take them on ERRANDS with you.

F.  Have FUN with your children.

G.  GIGGLE and laugh with your kids.  "GOOD JOB"-Praise them for good effort.

H.  HUG your youngsters.  Provide them a proper and safe HOME.

I.  Embrace their INDEPENDENCE as they grow, but always be ready to wrap them in your arms.

J.  JOKE with your children.  Enjoy the lighter side of things.

K.  KIDS will be KIDS.  Let them be the wonderful youngsters they are.

L.  LOVE your children.  Tell them "I love you", often, and mean it!!  Give them a nutritious LUNCH.

M.  Teach them the proper MANNERS-to be courteous and respectful.

N.  Learn how to say "NO" when necessary.  Take them to enjoy the NEON signs of a fair or circus.

O.  Take the unique OPPORTUNITY to shape the lives of your youngsters.

P.  PROTECT them from harm.  PROPERLY PARENT them.

Q.  Give them a good QUALITY of life.

R.  The "THREE R'S"-Reading, writing, arithmatic.  Help them with and supervise their homework.

S.  SUPPER, together, every night, as a family.

T.  Give them your TIME.  TEACH them right from wrong.

U.  UNDER the covers-safely tucked into bed every night.

V.  Take them with you when you VOTE.  Take your children on VACATION with you.

W.  WATCH television with your kids.  Don't use it as a baby sitter.

X.  Take them for X-RAYS, if they, heaven forbid, fall out of their favorite tree.

Y.  Teach them how to use a YO-YO. Simple things are often the most rewarding.

Z.  Take your children on a fun day trip to a ZOO.  Fun for the whole family!!

Of course, there are hundreds of ways to truly "support your children".  The system just wants to garnish the non-custodial parent's paycheck.

Help us say NO to Michigan's Family Law Court System.  Denying a child the love, care, guidance, and nurturing of a fit, willing, and able parent is child abuse!

As A Father Of Two, I am the new guy on the block here.  I will enjoy posting to you all from time to time.

A FATHER OF TWO.

Michigan House Bill 4564 - Michigan Shared Parenting

Michigan House Bill 4564 Hearing

Children have a fundamental right to be loved, guided, educated and nurtured equally by both fit and willing parents.  To deny this is wrong.  To deny this is child abuse.

Please help us reform Michigan's antiquated and harmful child custody laws join the A Child's Right Meetup group:

Click here to check out
The A Child's Right Meetup Group!

Shared Parenting Facts and Fiction by Dr. Linda Nielsen - Professor of Women Studies Wake Forest University.

Derek Bailey, MSW Dance4Equality

Jim Semerad Dads and Moms of Michigan

Murray Davis National Family Justice Association

Dr. Mike Ross Family Rights Coalition

Minister Ronald Smith Children Need Both Parents, Inc.

Bill Reisdorf, Esq.

Dave Taylor

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HB4564 Michigan House Bill 4564 Shared Parenting Equal Parenting Joint Physical Custody Joint CustodyMichigan Father's Rights Fatherhood Fathers Men Divorce children's rightsFather's Rights A Child's Right Dads of Michigan Dads and Moms of Michigan Family Rights Coalition National Family Justice AssociationDance4Equality Derek Bailey Dave Taylor Delete Jim Semerad Mike RossMurray Davis Bill Reisdorf Family Law Reform Michigan Family Law Reform

Michigan House Bill 4564 Testimony by Derek Bailey, MSW of Dance4Equaltiy

A Child's Right had the pleasure of urging Derek Bailey, MSW and Dance4Equality to attend the hearings for Michigan House Bill 4564.  American Indian Shared Parenting Organization, Dance4Equality was present outside of the House Building Office performing their spiritual dance in support of Michigan House Bill 4564.  Derek Bailey, Tonia Bailey, Robert Pedersen and myself (Angela) had an excellent time the night before the hearings learning much about the culture of Derek Bailey's tribe which is located in Michigan.  We experienced an amazing connection with the couple and are so proud to call them close friends.  To see some of the members of Dance4Equality walk into the hearing room was breathtaking to say the least!  A Child's Right is proudly affiliated with Dance4Equality.

Derek Bailey, MSW did an outstanding job outlining how shared parenting would positively impact his tribal community.  He also did an incredible job explaining his viewpoint as a state of Michigan licensed clinical social worker and MSW.  Dance4Equality CLEARLY "put themselves on the map" in Lansing as a leading shared parenting organization in Michigan.  There was a tremendous sense of pride by all who supported Michigan House Bill 4564 when Dance4Equality was present.

New Prototypes Being Tested for the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek :)

Information on the upcoming 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek

The Daily Telegram on Michigan House Bill 4564 and Michigan House Joint Resolution NN (2008)

Yet another excellent editorial by The Daily Telegram!  This time on Michigan House Bill 4564 and Michigan House Joint Resolution NN (2008) - if only other newspapers in Michigan had the same journalistic integrity and courage to report on the facts and not push liberal agenda.

Sunday MARCH 2, 2008

LOCAL EDITORIAL

‘Fatherhood month’ deserves state action

At issue: February being declared Responsible Fatherhood Awareness Month in Michigan.

Our view: Key bills need passage to help more children benefit from having fit non-custodial parents more involved in their lives.

February is “Responsible Fatherhood Awareness Month in Michigan,” declared by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to raise public awareness that involved fathers are important in raising children. Research shows that fathers parent in ways that tend to provide somewhat different — but complementary and equally important — benefits from parenting provided by mothers.

Unfortunately, society has moved away from the two-parent model for raising children. The U.S. Census Bureau found that between 1970 and 1990, the proportion of children living only with their mother doubled from 11 percent to 20 percent. Wednesday, the Census Bureau issued its new report that showed the latter rate has increased to 23 percent. More than one-quarter of American children live with only one parent and, in 88 percent of those cases, the Census Bureau found the mother has custody.

Divorce is a major cause of the trend. In most cases in Michigan, children of divorced parents typically are only given four to six days per month with their non-custodial parent. This arrangement remains the standard in any case in which either parent refuses joint parenting.

Two proposals are before Michigan lawmakers that would help ease that problem. One is Michigan’s Equal Parenting bill, HB 4564, which would establish that more equal parenting would become the normal expectation in contested divorces involving parents who both are fit adults. Judges still would have the authority to assign primary custody, however the burden of proof for denying one parent more equal time with their children would be shifted to a presumption of fitness rather than today’s general presumption of single-parenting.

Another proposal is House Joint Resolution NN, the Parental Rights Resolution, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish that “parents and legal guardians have a natural and fundamental right to direct the care, education, and upbringing of their children. No government action shall burden, abridge, or hinder this natural, fundamental right unless it is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

The Equal Parenting bill has languished in the House Judiciary Committee since Oct. 10 after six months of sitting in the Families and Children’s Services Committee without a hearing. A similar bill received mostly favorable testimony last year, but died when Rep. Dudley Spade, D-Tipton, declined to vote “yes” or “no” on it in committee.

Spade has signed the Parental Rights Resolution as a co-sponsor, although Rep. Mike Simpson, D-Liberty Twp., has not.

It is time to move these pieces of legislation forward for consideration by the full House. This month’s declaration pays recognition to fatherhood. It is important now that lawmakers also create a more equal state environment in which more children will benefit from responsible fatherhood.